Reconstruction and renovation work on the second- through fourth-floors of the 266 E. Michigan Ave. building, best known for the Coney Island Kalamazoo hot dog restaurant on its street level, is set to begin soon. The space, which has been unused for many years, will house 12 new loft-style apartments, including four affordable units.
The future can be intimidating for a person in their early 20s, but for Blaise Boulding it's off to a secure start. With help from a program that assists people to get ready to be a homeowner she now has her own small house in Portage.
It's been a while, but now Habitat for Humanity is working in Portage to put up houses as the county works to improve the affordable housing situation.
Dignity in Motion was formed when Judy Lowery realized that people who are unhoused not only need shelter, they need transportation. Its waiting list is now at 27 people requesting bikes. The demand is year-round — last winter, they gave away about 30 bikes.
HRI has evaluated many locations in Kalamazoo County where a POD (Place of Dignity) Community could be placed, but so far, none proved feasible. The small modular homes will remain in storage this coming winter as the search continues.
Since 2019 there have been 20 homes built and another six are under construction through the work of the Kalamazoo Attainable Homes Partnership. It brings together are homebuilders and funders including the Kalamazoo Foundation for Excellence.
Financing is coming together for Hawthorne Park, a four-story apartment building with ground-level commercial space in Kalamazoo's Edison neighborhood. The building is expected to be 52,523 square feet in total with 2,935 square feet dedicated to commercial use. Those working on the project hope the space will attract entrepreneurial businesses such as a coffee shop or a tobacco store.
Construction work is progressing on six condominium units and 1,800 square feet of commercial space at 1601 E. Main St., spearheaded by the Kalamazoo County Land Bank to help the Eastside Neighborhood develop affordable, mixed-income housing, and more space for new businesses.
Western Michigan University Homer Stryker M.D. School of Medicine is launching a pilot program to provide telehealth care to children in the City of Kalamazoo who may have no access to clinics or needed specialists. A pilot will soon get underway to reach families in need of care that only specialists can provide.
Kalamazoo County continues to move ahead with spending for affordable housing and programs to assist both would-be-homeowners and those struggling to stay in their homes. For 2023, the County Board has approved the allocation of $6.2 million in funds from the countywide millage known as 'Housing for All.'
Our Sponsors
Our Media Partners
